Grant for Mearns service

Mearns Coastal Healthy Living Network had a busy summer with a variety of projects including planting at the train station

Published:07:00Monday 07 September 2015

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Additional support is being made available for people living with dementia and their carers in Aberdeenshire, it was announced this week.

Mearns and Coastal Healthy Living Network is planning to expand it’s activities.

The expansion has been made possible thanks to a Big Lottery Fund grant of £350K.

Over the next five years, the Mearns and Coastal Healthy Living Network will use its award of £366,470 to expand and deliver new activities to 304 older people.

A group of local volunteers will help with day to day living including shopping, transport, household tasks and gardening.

The funding will also set up a new group for carers of people with dementia and a telephone service, as well as providing support with cooking and healthy eating.

Mearns and Coastal Healthy Living Network, Meg MacKenzie, Chair, said: “Our work is about enabling older people to live as independently as possible and I’m so relieved that we will be able to carry on and develop this work further.”

Ed Garrett, Manager, added: “This is great news. With five years funding we can really plan and concentrate on improving the lives of older people in Kincardine and Mearns rather than constantly worrying about money.”

The Mearns and Coastal Healthy Living Network is one of nine groups sharing in £4,172,654 from Big Lottery Fund’s Investing in Communities programme.

The programme aims to improve the quality of life for people and communities across Scotland.

Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: “Today’s funding will make a huge difference and create a lasting impact to people living with dementia and their carers in Aberdeenshire.

“A dementia carers group will be set up to support carers in their role and a range of new activities will be available for people with dementia to build new relationships and assist them with day to day life.”